Jesus is not a religion but a relationship with God

Category Archives: Hell

But Peter said to him, “May your silver perish with you, because you thought you could obtain the gift of God with money! Acts 8:20

Do you think you can buy your way into Heaven? Do you think you can purchase the Holy Spirit? There was a sorcerer named Simon who thought he could buy the power of the Holy Spirit from the apostles. Not only was this mans heart far from God, but also he didn’t understand what Jesus Christ has already done for us!

At the cross, when Jesus said “It is Finished” and died for us, he paid our debt to God. We are purchased by the blood of Jesus Christ. There is no money or deeds you can do to obtain salvation and power from God. This is a gift that was earned by the atonement of Jesus Christ and given to us because God loves us

So how can we obtain this salvation and power? First we need to repent for our wickedness. This sorcerer Simon, who was driven by demons, had no intention of repenting or worshiping Jesus. He just wanted the power of the Holy Spirit. You cant obtain the Holy Spirit, until you obtain the salvation of Jesus Christ

Another take away from this story is even though this Simon had demonic powers, which he displayed great wonders. The power of The Holy Spirit was greater than any demonic power, as Philip was casting out demons on the Samaritan people.

If you want the gift of Salvation and the power of the Holy Spirit, you must get right with God and repent. There is no money or works that you can earn your way into Heaven, only through Jesus Christ can we obtain access to God Amen!

But Peter and the apostles answered, “We must obey God rather than men. Acts 5:29

Peter and the apostles were given strict orders by the religious leaders, stop talking about Jesus or you will be imprisoned or even put to death. For most this would have been an easy decision, keep quiet and save yourself. However the apostles couldn’t keep quiet because they were obeying God and not man

This may seem like a story for the distant past, but as Christians today we often face the same circumstances. Think about if you just started talking about Jesus on a crowded public street, what reaction would you receive? In todays politically correct world, talking about Jesus is forbidden. How dare we offend the Atheists and the Muslim, and the Hindu, and the Buddhist

Most workplaces and schools today don’t welcome the gospel of Jesus Christ either. If you started preaching to your co-workers, what reaction would you get? Most of them would probably avoid you or maybe you would even be fired

So who are you truly obeying, God or society? We need to understand this current world we live in is temporary, and our higher calling is to call people to be saved through Jesus Christ. This mindset wont make you popular or rich, however what does it profit you to gain the whole world and to lose your soul?

Peter and the apostles understood this and faced imprisonment, persecution, and even death. However today they are at home with the Lord because they obeyed God in Jesus Name Amen!

“But the things which God announced beforehand by the mouth of all the prophets, that His Christ would suffer, He has thus fulfilled. Acts 3:18

The second sermon given by Peter revealed how Jesus Christ has been foretold throughout the entire Bible. Even since the book of Genesis all the way through Revelation, Jesus Christ has been revealed to the world. Prophets like Moses, Isaiah , and Daniel all spoke of the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ

And even though Jesus was revealed through the scriptures, the people still didn’t recognize him in the flesh. And not only did they reject him but had him tortured and crucified on a Roman cross. The Messiah that was promised by all the prophets through the Holy Spirit, was murdered by his own people

“For you first, God raised up His Servant and sent Him to bless you by turning every one of you from your wicked ways.” Acts 3:26

God raised up his only begotten Son, the suffering servant, who took the wrath of all our sins, so we can be justified before our Heavenly Father. The time has come for everyone to repent, the blood is on all our hands.

Only Christ, can save us from the curse of death, repent and receive his salvation in Jesus Name Amen!

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall be My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth. Acts 1:8

These are the last words Jesus spoke before he ascended into Heaven and sits at the right hand of God the Father. Jesus said “You will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon You”.

Often as Christians we feel helpless and maybe even forgotten, but God has said he will never leave or forsake us (Deuteronomy 31:6) God has fulfilled this promise by the arrival of The Holy Spirit. Now wherever you go or whatever circumstance you may be facing, The Holy Spirit dwells inside you and you receive his power!

Some might say, “I don’t feel powerful” or maybe you feel totally defeated. Remember we are fighting a spiritual warfare not a physical one. Think about when Jesus went to the cross, from a physical standpoint, he seemed weak and even defeated. But what the world didn’t realize is on the cross, Jesus defeated sin, death, and Satan! Jesus won the war of our souls and Gods Kingdom

Jesus went on to say “We are his witnesses, not just in Jerusalem but to the entire world”. When you accept Christ as your Lord and Savior and are baptized by The Holy Spirit, you are a Child of God! Its time to be a witness for Christ, this is not optional its an obligation as a Christian!

Spread the gospel to all the nations in the name of The Father, Son , and Holy Spirit Amen!

He will swallow up death for all time, And the Lord GOD will wipe tears away from all faces, And He will remove the reproach of His people from all the earth; For the LORD has spoken. Isaiah 25:8

As Easter (Resurrection) Sunday has just passed, it’s a great time to remind ourselves what Christ has accomplished for us. Jesus defeated death forever, and he rose as the eternal King of Kings , that will rule Gods kingdom where there will be no more pain, sorrow, tears, or death forever

So why is there still death today since Jesus defeated death over 2,000 years ago? Because God doesn’t want anyone to perish , but to come to repentance and accept Jesus Christ for salvation (2 Peter 3:9) The old broken world still continues today because God provides Free Will to all and doesn’t force himself on anyone.

However time will be running out for Satan and this sinful world. And when the day comes when Christ returns, time is up for the wicked. There will be a day, when God will restore his kingdom and The New Heavens and Earth come together, to complete paradise for all of us who are saved through Jesus Christ.

And it will be said in that day, “Behold, this is our God for whom we have waited that He might save us. This is the LORD for whom we have waited; Let us rejoice and be glad in His salvation.” Isaiah 25:9

There will be a day when we rejoice and say this is our God, Jesus Christ, whom we waited for to return and bring Heaven down with him. Without the work Christ did on the cross or in the tomb, the New Heavens and Earth would not be possible for us wretched sinners!

And I say also unto thee, That thou art Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church; and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.. Matthew 16:18

The picture above is of New York City during Easter time in 1956, notice the change in culture of America. Only a few decades ago, many families based their faith and morals around Jesus Christ. Today sadly if anyone tried to put up a cross in a public building they would be sued immediately. So what happened? How did our society go to such extremes? The answer is The Church

As Christians we have unrealistic expectations of The Church. We expect The Church to be perfect, to be fun, to be catering to our needs. However this is not what “The Church” was designed for in the first place, these unrealistic expectations have caused many to turn their back on “The Church” and cause a major backslide in society. Unfavorable images from the media have also caused many to have a negative opinion on “The Church”

I am guilty of this myself, we have these images or ideas of how we believe the perfect Church should be and strive to seek that. However we fail to understand “The Church” in Greek is “Ekklisia” which simply means “assembly of people”. The Church is simply a group of people coming together to worship Jesus Christ, to believe that any Church would be perfect or not have issues, is nonsense

Years ago, The Church was the foundation of society, just as Jesus instructed it to be. Fast forward today “The Church” has become the scapegoat for society’s problems and has become abandoned. Turning on the news today has become a scary routine, the evil among this world has spread at epic proportions. It’s time for all of us Christians, to recommit ourselves to “The Church”, and build upon the rock foundation for our children and grandchildren in Jesus Name Amen!

“If it turns out that he finds it, truly I say to you, he rejoices over it more than over the ninety-nine which have not gone astray. Matthew 18:13

Often Christians are criticized by non-believer for worshipping an “Angry God” that is wrathful and hateful, the reality is , it couldn’t be farther from the truth. As we look at this parable about how God rejoices over just one person repenting and coming to Christ

God loves us enough to not only forgive us for our sins and disobedience , but he was willingly to lay down his life for you, there is no greater love than what God displayed on the cross

“So it is not the will of your Father who is in heaven that one of these little ones perish. Matthew 18:14

It is not Gods will for anyone to perish, it is our will that determines if we perish. Since the beginning of time, God has granted us “free will” that allows everyone to choose, good or evil, God or Satan, this is a choice everyone gets to make

However even after all God has demonstrated to us , some will still reject Christ and refuse to repent or change their ways. When you make your choice ,you must also be willing to accept your fate, which will be the Lake of Fire

The Lord is not slow about His promise, as some count slowness, but is patient toward you, not wishing for any to perish but for all to come to repentance. 2 Peter 3:9

Many people mock at the delay of Christ return, however God is doing this purposely allowing people time to come to repentance. However God is just and eventually justice will be served!

Come to repentance , come to Christ, who is the only one who can redeem you of your sins and restore your soul in Jesus name Amen!

They became very much afraid and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey Him?” Mark 4:41

Who is Jesus? This is what the disciples asked as Jesus commanded the wind and sea to obey him. Who can speak to demons and have them shutter and beg to flee in a herd of swine? Who can bring the dead back to life by one touch or command? Who can walk on water or turn water into wine?

Jesus has demonstrated over and over again, that he is more than just a man. He showed that he is more than just a prophet or a teacher. He revealed that he is the beginning and the end. He is Immanual “God is with us”

Still today many people only consider Jesus a great man or teacher. They say he had some good ideas but wasn’t the only way to God. Jesus said he is the way , truth , and the life, nobody comes to the Father God except through him. There is no other way to God except through Jesus Christ!

Finally he paid the atonement for our sins, and on the third day he walked out of that grave alive forevermore. Sin and death were defeated forever, no more would they have a stronghold on us as long as we follow Jesus Christ!

Who is Jesus? He’s the answer to every problem you ever had, he gave his life so you could have yours eternally in Jesus Name Amen!

Then he told this parable: “A man had a fig tree growing in his vineyard, and he went to look for fruit on it but did not find any. Luke 13:6

The parable of the barren fig tree is very short and simple, yet it describes perfectly the relationship between God, Jesus, and Man.

We are Gods creation, which we represent the Fig Tree. God not only made us in him image but expects us not to follow the ways of Satan. Sin only produces bad fruit which equals death.

So he said to the man who took care of the vineyard, ‘For three years now I’ve been coming to look for fruit on this fig tree and haven’t found any. Cut it down! Why should it use up the soil?’ Luke 13:7

God makes its very clear those who continue to follow Satan and live a life a sin will be cast into the lake of fire. But the good news is we have an advocate, a redeemer.

Because of the blood of Jesus we are worthy to stand before God. What fruit are you bearing in your life? If God looked at your life would he consider you fruitful or barren?

“‘Sir,’ the man replied, ‘leave it alone for one more year, and I’ll dig around it and fertilize it. If it bears fruit next year, fine! If not, then cut it down.'” Luke 13:8-9

Because of Jesus we can live, our past sins have been forgiven. But the journey doesn’t end there, when we accept Jesus into our hearts we become transformed and begin producing good fruit by faith , hope , and love of Christ.

Remember Fear of The Lord is the beginning of wisdom and understanding, if we don’t respect our Maker how can he respect us? It’s a Father/Child relationship. Be obedient and faithful to God and he will give you everlasting life in Jesus Name Amen